List of mammals of Newfoundland
This is a list of mammal species recorded in the wild in Newfoundland, the island portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Only 14 known species (and one extinct species) are or were native to the island; this list is divided into native species and species introduced to the island since discovery by Europeans and colonization in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.
Several species native to Newfoundland are genetically distinct subspecies of more common species found elsewhere in Canada and North America.
Native species
[edit]- Northern long-eared bat, Myotis septentrionalis
- Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus
- Little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus
- Newfoundland black bear, Ursus americanus hamiltoni[1]
- Newfoundland beaver, Castor canadensis caecator[1]
- Migratory woodland caribou, Rangifer tarandus caribou
- Ermine, Mustela erminea
- Red fox, Vulpes vulpes deletrix,[1] silver and cross variants
- Arctic hare, Lepus arcticus bangsii[1]
- Newfoundland lynx, Lynx canadensis subsolanus[1]
- Newfoundland pine marten, Martes americana atrata[1]
- Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus obscurus[1]
- Northern river otter, Lontra canadensis degener[1]
- Meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus terranovae[1]
Extinct species
[edit]- Newfoundland wolf, Canis lupus beothucus[1]
Naturally incoming species
[edit]- Labrador wolf, Canis lupus labradorius, apparent natural range expansion in early 21st century. There is no confirmed breeding population on the island.[2][3]
- Coyote, Canis latrans, natural range expansion in the late 20th century
- Polar bear, Ursus maritimus, periodic appearances on the island in late winter or early spring
Introduced species
[edit]- Eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus, introduced[1] in 1962[citation needed]
- Snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus, introduced around 1860
- American mink, Mustela vison, introduced for fur-farming in 1934
- Moose, Alces alces, introduced in both 1878 and 1904[1]
- Eastern deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus
- House mouse, Mus musculus
- Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus
- Masked shrew, Sorex cinereus
- American red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, introduced in 1963
- Bank vole, Myodes glareolus, introduced in 1967
- Southern red-backed vole, Myodes gapperi
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Gros Morne National Park - A Place Mammals Can Call Home". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2007-11-29. Formally classified distinct subspecies of more common mainland species.
- ^ "Wolf in Newfoundland probably made it to island on ice, experts say". The Telegram. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Genetic Retesting of DNA Confirms Second Wolf on Island of Newfoundland". Department of Environment and Conservation, Newfoundland and Labrador. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.